by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 985 U.S. colleges awarded 74,111 degrees and certificates in Precision Production. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 50% of graduates. College Factual ranks 798 schools in its 2027 Best Precision Production Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $33,715 one year after completing, rising to $48,621 after four years.
Are you interested in the field of manufacturing and love to build things? Precision Production could be the field for you. Whether you like working with metal, wood, or leather, this major is for any type of craftsman.
A program in Precision Production will provide students with the technical knowledge and skill to develop products using precision manufacturing and illustration. The two main majors in the field are Precision Metal Working and Woodworking. Some of the courses you can expect to take are drawing digital design course, welding, tool-and-die making, and furniture design. This program is commonly seen as a certification or Associate's degree.
A degree in Precision Production involves the study of Precision Production. Instructional Programs That Prepare Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Create Products Using Techniques Of Precision Craftsmanship Or Technical Illustration.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, precision production is a popular field of study, with 74,111 degrees awarded annually. 985 colleges award precision production degrees, an average of 75 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,213.
By level, the 74,111 awards include 24,613 certificates, 5,565 associate degrees, 28 bachelor’s degrees and 37,126 master’s degrees.
Women earned 12% of precision production degrees and certificates in the latest year (9,106 of 74,111). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (40,655) and Hispanic or Latino (18,013), and international students earned 278.
College Factual ranks 798 schools in its 2027 Best Precision Production Schools ranking, including 175 for associate degrees and 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks precision production schools within 33 states. In all, 985 colleges offer precision production programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Precision Production Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common precision production credential is the master’s degree: 37,126 of the 74,111 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to precision production call most for Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control and Monitoring, and for knowledge of Production and Processing, Mechanical and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Arm-Hand Steadiness and Control Precision.
Students who go into this field should be comfortable with basic math, geometry and computer skills. You will be constantly measuring items and need to be careful with details. Problem solving skills will help you resolve complications in projects.
Because this is a hands-on job, it requires physical strength and stamina. You will be working on-site, lifting heavy materials and working long hours. Apprenticeships make up part of most of these programs. Students are paired up with professionals in the field to learn while doing.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a precision production degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 24,613 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,565 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 28 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 37,126 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to precision production, at 55.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 55.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 16.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 15.5% |
| Some college courses | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 1.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.8% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Precision Production, with an average median salary of $51,630; the strongest outlook belongs to Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, at 14.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Machine Operator, Patternmaker, Layout Worker and Stock Checker.
Your career options will be determined by what concentration you chose. Graduates of Precision Metal Working can find jobs as structural iron and steel workers, welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers, sheet metal workers, machinist, and tool and die maker. These are professionals who link metal parts and use hand-held welding equipment to fill indentions or holes of metal products.
Woodworking majors become woodworkers, carpenters, construction laborers and helpers, and construction managers. Construction laborers and helpers do basic tasks on the construction site that required physical labor. Theses professionals commonly work fulltime, although bad weather can affect working conditions.
The occupation related to precision production with the most projected jobs is Patternmakers, Wood, at 968,557.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Patternmakers, Wood | 968,557 | 14.0% |
| Woodworkers, All Other | 945,993 | 10.0% |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 884,005 | 6.6% |
| Machinists | 826,859 | 1.7% |
| Upholsterers | 799,734 | 3.5% |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 783,409 | 4.6% |
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | 769,616 | 4.3% |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 762,661 | 7.6% |
Precision Production graduates earn a median $33,715 one year after completing their program, $48,621 after four years and $44,562 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,715 |
| 4 years | $48,621 |
| 5 years | $44,562 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to precision production is Boilermakers, with a median salary of $84,334.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Boilermakers | $84,334 |
| Patternmakers, Wood | $69,107 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | $69,095 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | $67,669 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $67,252 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $67,016 |
| Sheet Metal Workers | $62,339 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | $60,584 |
Precision Production includes 6 concentrations that together award 74,111 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Precision Metal Working (73,316), Woodworking (610) and Precision Production, Other (110). Browse the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | 73,316 |
| Woodworking | 610 |
| Precision Production, Other | 110 |
| PRECISION PRODUCTION | 32 |
| Leatherworking and Upholstery | 28 |
| Boilermaking/Boilermaker | 15 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
